Employee Consent Form – Everybody should be able to make informed decisions regarding their health. Medical treatments can be injurious, and patients must be able decide, based on known risks, how their bodies will be treated. So, before medical professionals are permitted to administer treatments to patients, they need to receive the so-called informed consent.
The informed consent requirement is legal requirement that requires that a patient be provided with a full and complete description of the physical condition as well as the treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting as the patient’s physician. Once this information is received patients must sign a consent form with the doctor to treat before any form of treatment is administered. Without informed consent from the patient the health professional is not permitted to offer treatment.
Decision Making Capacity
In some cases patients don’t have the capabilities to fully understand their options regarding treatment, and the benefits and risks associated with each one. In some instances patients may not be able to communicate their decision to health care professionals. In these situations the patient is said not to possess the proper capacity for decision-making. An individual from the family or court-appointed representative, then, is allowed to provide informed consent instead.
Patients who are greatly influenced by their emotions – anxiety or fear, for instance could be classified as not having the capacity for decision-making. The ones who are asleep clearly are unable to make decisions on their own. Therefore, outside parties have to give consent for treatment instead.
Items in an Employee Consent Form
There are certain elements that are included on all informed consent forms:
The patient’s medical diagnosis/condition
The treatment that is recommended by the physician who is acting
The risks and benefits that come with this treatment
Alternative treatments are also available, along with their risks and benefits
The potential risks and rewards with accepting no treatment at all
Not only must these items be detailed in documentation however, they must be discussed with the patient. This way, he or she will fully understand the particulars of the case and get straight answers to any issues that may be arising.